Ch Supt Peter Costello has returned to Sefton after previously serving as the area’s Chief Inspector nine years ago

Sefton's new area commander Peter Costello outside Crosby Police Station

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Sefton’s new area commander has pledged to create stronger ties with the borough’s diverse communities in an effort to fight serious crime.

Ch Supt Peter Costello has returned to Sefton after previously serving as the area’s Chief Inspector nine years ago. With experience of working across most boroughs in Merseyside over his 23 year career and of masterminding the policing of large events such as 2012’s Giants visit, Ch Supt Costello is looking forward to his new role.

He said: “I’ve worked here in the past and you don’t get many areas as diverse as Sefton.

“It’s one of the biggest areas and there’s lot of variety in terms of types of crime. You also have some of the most economically deprived areas and some of the most affluent areas - alongside that comes a lot of different challenges and expectations.”

According to Ch Supt Costello, the key to meeting these challenges is creating partnerships, something which he has strived to do throughout his career.

“During my first ten years policing service I was a uniform and plain clothes constable and sergeant in North Liverpool. I then spent four years as an Inspector covering Knowsley and St Helen’s including the role of Neighbourhood Inspector for St Helen’s Town Centre where I realised the critical importance of working in close partnership with local partners and communities as part of the National Reassurance Policing Programme.

“Between 2006-08, it was a privilege to perform the role of Sefton Chief Inspector in charge of front line policing where I continued to encourage and drive this partnership philosophy to deliver a safer Sefton and my aim is to continue this as Sefton Area Commander.

“My memory of Sefton was of there being a very strong partnership with the community and a willingness to take joint ownership of the problems and challenges.”

Ch Supt Costello’s previous role as Chief Superintendent at the Matrix Serious and Organised Crime unit gives him a unique insight into the gun and gang culture that has plagued South Sefton in recent months.

“During the last several years violent crime in South Sefton has been a growing problem and we are well aware of that.

“I want to make a firm commitment that we build on the work we’ve done and we make sure we have a plan to tackle the causes of this serious crime to stop it happening in the first place. If it does happen we will do everything we can to tackle it.

“It’s not just the police but other partners and the community who can play a critical role so one of my priorities is to make sure communities have the confidence to come forward and provide us with intelligence and information.”

Pointing to the recent success of Merseyside’ Police’s month long blitz on cannabis farms as an example of how well the force can work with the public, Ch Supt Costello is hoping more and more people will come forward to help his officers.

“A key part of my strategy is to stop the crime before it happens and prevent kids from getting involved at the outset,” he added.

“The way I do that is that to make sure my neighbourhood inspectors hold regular meetings with members of the community where they can identify what the priorities should be.”